7 Tips to Up Your Job Search Game

Looking for a new job can be an exhausting process. It involves endless interviews, cover letters, and references. However, before tackling any part of the application process, you need to be able to find the right jobs. Follow these tips to improve your search for potential jobs.

1. Set Realistic Expectations

The first thing you need to do is face reality. You will not be able to find the right job if you have unrealistic expectations about your qualifications. Even if you do not have the experience or skill for a management job now, you can start at a lower position and work your way up in the company.

2. Review Your Resume

Briefly scan your resume. Potential employers will most likely make a decision about you after less than a minute of looking at your resume. Many companies even have computer programs that automatically reject applications that do not include certain details. Review your resume and think about what kind of message it sends. If it is convoluted or vague and it takes a few minutes to understand what you have to offer, revise it.

3. Focus on Networking

While online job boards and career databases are a great way to find potential jobs, they yield poor results when it comes to actually getting the job. Find companies you may want to work with on a job board and then see if you know anyone with connections to that company. Personal recommendations are exponentially more meaningful to potential employers than online applications.

4. Apply to a Large Number of Jobs

People rarely get the first job on their list. Chances are high that forty other people applied for the same position and at least a few of them are more qualified. Because of this, you must apply for a large number of jobs. Send your resume to ten employers because eight of them may not grant you an interview. The more jobs you apply for, the more likely it is that you will find the perfect one for you.

5. Consider Volunteering

If you do not have the necessary experience to get the job you want, consider volunteering. It will give you more experience and show potential employers that you are serious and passionate about your career. Volunteering is also a great way to network, as it gives you an opportunity to create relationships with people in your field.

6. Create Achievable Goals

Staying positive during your job search is the only way to remain motivated enough to persevere through the rejection. Create goals that you know you can achieve. If you find yourself constantly failing to meet your daily or weekly goals, you will quickly feel burnt out and frustrated.

7. Take Care of Yourself

You first priority should always be to take care of yourself. While it is necessary to push through inevitable frustration during your job search, do not let yourself get burnt out by working too much and constantly dealing with stress. If you need to take a brief break to decompress and re-center yourself, take a break. You will not be able to effectively search and secure a job if you are not in a good mental or emotional place.

Additional Resources:
https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-ways-to-supercharge-your-job-search-in-the-next-hour
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/04/22/7-keys-to-a-successful-job-search/#3c6251333021
https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/improve-job-search-avoid-burnout/

5 Essential Tips to Advance Your Career

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In years past, an employee could start off on the bottom rung of a company, and through hard work and persistence, move up the ladder and eventually retire with a pension and a gold watch. Those sorts of jobs are now few and far between.

Companies employ head hunters to find great employees outside the company, and promotions are rarely based solely on seniority. To advance your career, you’re going to need to do more than just hang around with one company. Use these five tips to start taking action now to advance your career.

Set Career Goals

Deciding you want to advance your career is a start, but unless you move beyond vague ideas, it’s unlikely you will make much progress. Start off by setting concrete goals for what you want to accomplish in your career. Lay out a timeline that details not only the responsibilities you hope to take on, but also your salary expectations at that level. Be as specific as possible, but keep in mind the pace of change in today’s office. Try to spot where the best opportunities will be in the future.

Assess Strengths and Weaknesses

Once you know the path you need to take to advance your career, you need to take an objective look at what it will take to get you there. Friends can be a great source of encouragement, but you will need people who can give you unbiased feedback. Managers and supervisors can often help you assess your strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide valuable information on what it takes to move to the next level.

Don’t Neglect Soft Skills

career coaching in new jersey Obviously to advance your career, you will need the technical expertise to perform in the position. However, it pays to focus just as much on developing the soft skills needed in the profession. Soft skills include things like leadership skills, training in effective communication, time management skills, and team-working. Often it is not the most technically skilled that advances in a career, but the one who is best able to work with the team around them. Soft skills give you that advantage and will prove invaluable as you move to greater positions of responsibility.

Major in Networking

You’ve heard the cliché that it’s not what you know but who you know. As with most clichés, this is built on some truth. For most people, advancement will require moving from one company to another over time. The key to finding those opportunities is to have a solid network of people you stay in touch with regularly. Many people make the mistake of only developing their networks when they’re looking for new employment. Make networking a priority at all times so when it comes time to find new employment, you’ll already know where to look.

Find the Right Balance

Obsessively focusing on your career leads to tunnel vision and missed opportunities. Many of the most successful people are in very different positions today from their first, second, or even third career. Balancing work and life keeps you open to possibilities you might otherwise miss. Don’t be afraid to take a calculated risk to move in a different direction than what you envisioned when you created your goals.

Always remember that advancing in your career is not a matter of slavishly devoting yourself to a course set in stone, but a constant re-evaluation of where you are and where you want to be.

Additional Resources:
https://www.thebalance.com/soft-skills-for-managers-2275889
https://www.forbes.com/sites/northwesternmutual/2014/07/10/investing-in-your-life-7-simple-ways-to-advance-your-career/#570682ba5e4c
https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2012/09/20/10-ways-to-advance-your-career-by-going-the-extra-mile
https://time.com/4752677/6-ways-advance-career/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/05/02/tips-from-the-trenches-five-ways-to-further-your-career/#653a10b22337

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Handling Your Midlife Career Change

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It’s common for mid-life professionals to crave a change. Maybe you feel you’ve been stuck in a rut for the past few years or maybe your company does not have any more room for advancement. No matter your reasoning, a mid-life career change is a cause for introspection and careful consideration. Here’s how to approach the decision:

What Do You Want to Do Next?

When making a career change, there are a few different paths you can take:

A new job in the same field. If your beef is with your job and not the industry, consider sidestepping into a new career. A new set of coworkers or a new boss may be all you need for job satisfaction.
A new career in a different field. If there are certain skill sets that transfer fields, you might want to consider a different industry. This might be the right choice if your industry is becoming obsolete or you simply want a new twist on your old job.
A one-eighty. Sometimes, you feel like you need a complete change. Many mid-career professionals want to reinvent their work life completely. This is difficult but achievable.

Get Advice from a Career Coach

midlife career change If you’re not sure where to begin, consider asking for advice. A career coach can provide valuable introspection and help you make proper decisions regarding your career change. Remember, change is always scary, even when it’s a welcome change. When undergoing a career transition, a career coach can help you maintain a positive mindset, rather than dwelling on the potential downsides of the change.

By keeping the focus on the positives that lie ahead, you can make a smoother transition to your new career. Career coaching can help you maintain your focus while guiding you through the important decisions that lie ahead.

Consider Taking It Up A Notch

If you’re feeling stagnant in your current position, perhaps it’s time for a leadership role. Leadership coaching can help you develop your natural leader’s talent and groom you for a new role in management or even entrepreneurship. With the right help, any career change is possible. A leadership role can prove valuable to mid-level professionals who want to remain in their company or industry but feel they’ve become stuck on the corporate ladder.

Making a successful career transition requires preparation, introspection, and the right attitude. By applying these tips, you can make a smooth transition into a rewarding new career.

Additional Resources:

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Networking Outside Your Comfort Zone

The networking landscape has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. Once a rarity, business professionals are now bombarded by numerous networking events making it difficult to discern which opportunities are the right opportunities.

Watch below for Susan Ascher’s latest tips on networking for business professionals and catch a sneak peek into Susan’s highly acclaimed networking series, Culinary Connections, recently held at The Manor in West Orange.

About Culinary Connections

Culinary Connections is an exclusive networking event for professionals from all walks of business who are passionate about making the right connections over great wine and food. Our intimate settings and five-star venues provide the perfect backdrop for making lasting connections – unlike any other networking event you may have attended.

Be sure to check our EVENTS page for the next Culinary Connections or join one of our Mastermind for Mastermind Groups to take your business or career to the next level.